Assessment of antiplasmodial activity of Anthocleista grandiflora on Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Medical plants are used traditionally as alternative treatment for malaria. Anthocleista grandiflora (A. grandiflora) is used traditionally for the treatment of malaria. This study attempt to scientifically validate its traditional use for malaria treatment by evaluating the antiplasmodial activity of its aqueous leaf extract (AAG) in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. P. berghei infected mice were orally treated with AAG (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) daily in curative, suppressive and prophylactic studies. The untreated parasitized control (UPC) and the (PC) positive control were orally treated with normal saline (0.2mL) and chloroquine (CQ) (10mg/kg) respectively. At the end of treatment, blood samples were analyzed for parasitamia levels, hematological parameter and lipid profile. No morality was observed in acute toxicity evaluation of AAG in mice. AAG showed significant dose-dependent curative, suppressive and prophylactic activities via reductions in parasitamia levels at 100 mg/kg (p<0.05), 200 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p<0.001) when compared to UPC. Mean survival time was increased in a dose-dependent fashion at 100 mg/kg (p<0.05), 200 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p<0.001) when compared to UPC. AAG increased red blood cells, hemoglobin, pack cell volume, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but decreased white blood cells, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent fashion at100 mg/kg (p<0.05), 200 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p<0.001) when compared to UPC. Comparatively the effects of AAG (400 mg/kg) were statistically at par with (CQ) 10mg/kg. Based on the observations in this study, AGA seems safe and has antimalaria activity